David Storch can still land Sheffield Wednesday signing bigger than Barry Bannan | OneFootball

A Sheffield Wednesday deal for Jamie Vardy would be a bigger move than Barry Bannan's return

David Storch led the takeover of Sheffield Wednesday at the beginning of May, and he has been swift in overseeing significant changes behind the scenes.

The Owls have appointed a new CEO in David Bruce, with Simon Wilson also joining as the sporting director after his exit from Stockport County.

The League One side are looking to rebuild their first team squad this summer following a disastrous 2025/26 in which they finished bottom of the Championship.

Henrik Pedersen oversaw a tough season where massive financial issues hampered the team from being competitive.

The likes of Ricardo Santos, Jordi Liongola and Callum Slattery have joined the club, along with Louie Barry and Sil Swinkels, among others.

But the most notable signing at Hillsborough so far this summer has been the return of former captain Barry Bannan, who has signed for the Yorkshire outfit as a free transfer from Millwall.

Sheffield Wednesday can still secure bigger signing than Barry Bannan in Jamie Vardy

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Bannan established himself as a modern club legend during his first stint at Sheffield Wednesday, where he made 470 appearances across a 10-and-a-half year span.

He was a pivotal part of the team that reached the play-offs in back-to-back seasons under Carlos Carvalhal in 2016 and 2017, and the midfielder went to help the Owls gain promotion from League One in 2023.

So it was no surprise that confirmation of his return led to an intense reaction from supporters online, who are all excited to have the 36-year-old back in the side.

However, there is still one possible deal left on the table for the Yorkshire outfit that could yet blow away the reaction Bannan’s return received.

And that is the signing of Jamie Vardy, who is currently a free agent following his exit from Italian side Cremonese.

The move to Serie A didn’t quite go as the striker might have hoped, but on an individual level he still scored seven goals at a top flight level, and showed he has plenty left in the tank even at the age of 39.

And the former England international grew up as a Sheffield Wednesday fan, so there is an obvious emotional appeal that could draw him towards the move.

With the Owls looking to get back to a competitive level straight away, this kind of short-term addition could really bolster their ability to fight at the top end of the League One table, if Vardy would be willing to drop down to the third tier.

How Sheffield Wednesday fans feel about a Jamie Vardy deal

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Vardy signing for Sheffield Wednesday would be more than welcome from a large portion of the fans, all things considered.

Fans are optimistic that he could be a great signing to bolster their chances of returning to a strong competitive level in League One.

Meanwhile, other fans have tried to tug on the striker’s heartstrings, emphasising the emotional factor of playing for his boyhood club.

And the potential cost of the deal has been dismissed by some supporters, who believe that it could pay for itself due to the increase in sponsorship, and the impact it could have on ticket sales.

However, not every fan is behind the idea of signing Vardy, with some suggesting that he would only be doing it as a last resort because he wouldn’t be wanted anywhere else.

Vardy may be associated with Leicester City for his incredible run there as their leading man, but it’s Sheffield Wednesday that makes the most sense for a final run in English football.

And if Storch can pull it off and bring him to Hillsborough, then his arrival could really blow away the reaction Bannan’s return received for the club.